# Need a Win7 Application logger.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-win7-application-logger/694873>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 5, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-win7-application-logger/694873 "2014-08-05T16:05:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-win7-application-logger/694873/1 "2014-08-05T16:05:18Z")

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I need a program for Windows 7 that will easily record what programs were run, when started and for how long it was running. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-win7-application-logger/694873/2 "2014-08-05T16:31:10Z")

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I’m pretty sure you can set up process monitor (free download from microsoft) to do that. I’m not sure if there is anything better available.

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-win7-application-logger/694873/3 "2014-08-05T19:45:29Z")

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I think the parental controls for Windows 7 (either included or downloadable for free) includes activity reports that does this, but I can’t remember for sure.

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**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-win7-application-logger/694873/4 "2014-08-06T01:33:45Z")

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This is kind of a technical solution but if you right click on **My Computer** on the desktop and choose \*\*Manage \*\*(you have to have admin rights) then click on **Event Viewer** it will show you everything you’re computer’s done. Like I said though it’s not meant for the average user and is pretty technical.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-win7-application-logger/694873/5 "2014-08-07T01:54:46Z")

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None of those tell me how long the program has been running

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-win7-application-logger/694873/6 "2014-08-08T17:41:27Z")

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Activity Reports should. Did you try it?  
[http://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2012/05/16/d7b1d4f0-f0eb-11e2-8c7c-d4ae52e62bcc/8e7ba189eb21048d9b9f26ff29114ca2/8204.FamilySafety02\_thumb\_5B1173CB.png](http://cnet3.cbsistatic.com/hub/i/2012/05/16/d7b1d4f0-f0eb-11e2-8c7c-d4ae52e62bcc/8e7ba189eb21048d9b9f26ff29114ca2/8204.FamilySafety02_thumb_5B1173CB.png)